Page 79 of Malice

His voice sounds like coming through a tunnel for a second, but then, like the volume is being turned up, the world comes back into focus and I blow out a breath that feels like I was holding it for way too long.

“Hudson.”

“Hi.” He rubs my cheek. “Are you okay?”

I nod. “Yeah.” I look up to see Wilder already on his feet, smoothing down his trench coat. A wave of nausea hits me and I dry heave for a few seconds while Hudson rubs my back.

“It gets easier,” Wilder says.

Hudson helps me to my feet, and while I’m wobbly, I’m aware of my growing stability. “I’m good now. Thank you.”

Wilder taps a small bottle of the potion and whips a piece of paper out of his pocket. “Give this to the witch when you need more.”

“Thanks again, Wilder. For everything.”

“I’m happy to help. If you need me again, Crash can find me.”

He starts to walk toward the door, but pauses, studying Hudson’s face for a few awkward seconds. He nods, as if he answered a question none of us can hear, then shifts his heavy gaze to me.

“Take care of each other.”

“We will,” I answer.

“I’ll see myself out.”

And then he’s gone.

“He’s intense,” Hudson says.

“That’s putting it mildly. I need a glass of water.”

“I’ll get it.”

Hudson hurries to the sink and fills a plastic cup of cool water for me. I sip it, exhaling slowly as my equilibrium fully returns.

“Thank you.” I set the glass down and scrub a hand over my face.

“What was it like?”

“Bizarre. Dark and silent. You can’t feel yourself at all but your mind is extremely active.”

“Does it hurt?”

“No. Coming back is disorienting but not painful. I know what I have to do now.”

“Can you tell me?”

I reach out to rub his cheek. “We have to let the Horror fully manifest. I have to call off the house spirits so he can replenishhis energy. Then I’ll meet him in the astral plane and choke the fuck out of him until he tells me his underworld name. Once I get that, I’ll return here and banish him.” I chuckle darkly. “It sounds so easy.”

“What can I do to help?”

“You can’t help me. Not when it comes to the actual banishment.”

He nods, biting his bottom lip. “Can anyone go to the astral plane or just Chasers?”

“Anyone can.”

Hudson reaches up and cups his hands around my face. “You look tired.”

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